Impossible to think about Messi leaving Barcelona, says father

Lionel Messi's father says it is impossible to think of his son playing for any other club than Barcelona.

With media reports this week in Spain suggesting Blaugrana president Sandro Rosell was working on a new contract offer which could tie the Argentine to the Camp Nou until 2020, Jorge Messi told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE on Tuesday that he could not imagine his son wearing a different club jersey.

"It is impossible to think about him (leaving)," Messi senior said. "There would have to be a huge accident in the world for Leo to leave Barcelona. He has always said he wants to retire at Barca."

Messi admitted he had been worried when Leo was stretchered off against Benfica last week, but was then delighted when he returned against Betis to break Muller's 40-year-old record.

"It seemed impossible he would beat the record of a monster like (Muller)," he said. "He scored a very important amount of goals. He has the luck to have a team which helps him a lot. He keeps scoring goals so that his team wins titles. Hopefully things will continue like this."

Messi senior said he hoped to be celebrating a fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or for the family when the 2012 prize is announced next month, but had kind words for contenders Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"If they do not give to Messi, I do not know who they would give it to," he said. "Of course I could choose Iniesta, he deserves it too. It is closely fought for. Cristiano has had a great season."

Leo was not being falsely modest when he claimed team trophies were more important than personal recognition, Jorge added.

"He is very competitive with himself and with the team," he said. "He has always said that, and it is the truth. He always puts the team first. What he wants to achieve are trophies for the team, not personal awards. He is very frank when he says that."

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Source: ESPN